Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-10-29
ruth RODNEY'S ROMANCE.
The Conflict OF Love and Circumstan-
ces IN Life.
BY FRANCIS FOOTE.

BY FRANCIS FOOrE.
Ruth
A girl with lightly clasped hands, and
thoughtful eyes, her whole attitude
suggesting happy day dreams. was
leaning against the trunk of dead
tree at the foot of an old fashioned
garden.
"Ruthr'
The peevish, impatient voice had at
last reached her, and her expression
changed to one of love and anxiety.
Yes, dear. am coming" she called
in her clear young voice, as she ran up
the narrow path towards the house.
How neglectful am of your in a
tone of self-reb buke as she entered the
little sitting room and gazed tenderly
at a man who was seated in a large
easy chair before desk covered with
half sheets of paper.
ut was time for your medicine long
ago; here is your paper to read. and 1
have let you write so much and worry
your poor brain without my trying to
stop you. Father, you mustn't let me get
into thinking mood, it spoils me-"
and she lightly kissed his forehead.
Mr.. Rodney drew back from the ca
ress and coughed nervously. The girl
stopped and looked directly into his
eyes.
What is it?" she said at length.
You were to have no secrets from
me. rememberr'
One could tell that these two were
father and daughter. They had the
same low. broad forehead, the same
large gray eyes, thick brown hair; but
here the similarity ended, for the mans
face was careworn and this from i'll
ness his eyes and mouth showed the
result of dissipation, and his shoulders
had stoop from constant wr ting,
The girl, on the contrary, was health
personified. You could see it in the
firm. supple curves of her wrist and
waist, in her clear complexion, elastic
gait, and frank, sweet eyes,
What is it father?" she asked
again.
Frank Rodney shifted his gaze un-
steadily from one object to another.
He found it more difficult than he had
imagined to tell this girl, the one
creature whom he thought he loved
unseltishly, that they had come to the
end of everything.
Where's Tom?" he asked suddenly.
''Still in Iowa, papa, and doing very
well" Ruth's voice shook little and
she turned her head. Can it be that
he has bad news from Tom?' she
wondered.
Tom Russelrs father and Mr.. Rod
ney were cousins, and college chums.
When Mr.. Russell died he appointed
Mr.. Rodney guardian of his only son.
to whom he left a small fortune. Tom
had passed all his vacations at his
guardians house during his college
years. and naturally he and Ruth had
been much together.
Then he went into business in the
western part of the State, lost nearly
all his money, and the year before had
made them short visit, before going
West to see what ranching would do
| for him.
1t was during this visit that he fell
violently in love with Ruth, lust be-
cause I'm not worth penny. and can
never tell her of my love-" he thought.
For three days he fought manfully
with himself but the last evening of
his stay with them he asked Ruth TO
walk down to the old tree. Perhaps
something in the beauty of the night,
something in Ruth's manner, caused
him to forget his resolutions. However
that may have been. before he was tell
ing her of his love and asking if he
could not go away happy in the
thought that some day when he could
claim her she would love him in re-
turn. That was all; there was no en-
gagement, but Ruth's answer must
have been satisfactory, if one can judge
from the long letters which came
regularly and the little boyish picture
which she wore in the vicinity of her
heart.
This was the state of affairs when
Mr.. Rodney asked so suddenly for news
from Tom.
He paid little attention to Ruth
answer, and began to beat TATTOO on
the table with his pen.
"It's no use, Ruthie," he said finally,
I'VE are in tight place. You know
we are mortgaged way up; well the
interest was due last week; Mr.. Marsh
came for it and put him of. He comes
again tomorrow, and l haven't one
hundred dollars ready money"
Where is the money from your last
! bookp" Ruth's eyes were wide with
| astonishment and pain.
That er-well, hem,-it's al gone;
how, can't saw" Mr.. Rodney blush
ed under the searching look of his
daughter. He knew too well how it
went
"Havent't you stories at the pub
Usher sP" she asked again.
s.Yes, q short tale or so. but they
won't bring in much. and the worst OF
it is since my sick turn haven't an
ideA / can't write. It's an impos-
sibility. simply sit here and waste
ims md paper That is the hardest